Chinook fishery at April 1: same old, same old?

A year ago April 1, we posted about DFO plans for the 2020 chinook salmon fishery here. This year, the fishery notice number has been updated to FN0345 or FN0349 – take your pick. Well that’s progress, I suppose. The words have changed a bit, but there’s still the same vague hint that perhaps, maybe, possibly, if the stars align, you’ll be allowed to fish for a marked hatchery chinook in the waters of southern BC. Maybe.

To address conservation concerns for at-risk Fraser River Chinook stocks, DFO is continuing precautionary reductions in commercial, recreational and First Nations’ fisheries to support conservation of these stocks. This Fishery Notice provides the interim recreational fishery management measures to provide protection to at-risk Fraser River Chinook stocks in Areas 11 to 28, 29, 121 to 127. The plan is to start the 2021 fishing season (beginning April 1, 2021) with measures in place at the beginning of last season, until further notice. As these are interim measures, a further announcement on possible revised management actions will be announced in a subsequent fishery notice.
FN0349

Angler Protest

Where? Ogden Point Breakwater
When? Monday, July 15th, 2019 at 9:00 AM

On July 15th the BC Coast opens for the retention of Chinook Salmon. Meanwhile the straight of Juan de Fuca remains closed. It has been asked of Minister Wilkinson and DFO, “Why can’t we retain a hatchery marked Chinook?”, with NO REPLY.

It’s time we let the government know how important this public fishery is to all of us. Please show up in your boat, kayak, canoe or whatever flotation device you have. Attendance is critical and without your support we fail!

The message is dead simple: “Why can’t we retain a hatchery marked chinook”?